Four University of Colorado at Boulder roommates are counting down the days to Jan. 6, when they will embark on a post-graduation, two-month trek through Mexico and Central America to help build homes while also "catching some waves."
The CU-Boulder friends will travel in their newly purchased 1992 Subaru Legacy. The car has about 200,000 miles on it, according to Alan Goodrich, the expedition's chief organizer and a CU-Boulder senior who will receive his bachelor's degree in political science on Dec. 22. Two of the roommates graduated last May and the other two will graduate Dec. 22.
"We needed something that will get us down there safely, hold all four of us and our surfboards, and stay within our very limited budget," Goodrich said. "The hardest part has been getting insurance for the car."
The four plan to drive down to Costa Rica over a two-month period, making 10 stops to help build houses and do other volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity affiliates in various cities in Mexico and Central America. In their "free time," they'll break out their surfboards.
The group has been raising funds for the past couple of months to benefit the Flatirons Habitat for Humanity in Boulder. Their overall goal is to raise $75,000 to sponsor a Habitat home in north Boulder.
While only one person in the group is from a true surfer haven - CU-Boulder senior David Behm, who grew up in Orange County, Calif. - they all have a strong interest in the sport, including taking road trips to California from Colorado for weekend surfing.
"We have been planning the trip in some form for a couple of years," said Miles Winder, another member of the travel group who graduated from CU-Boulder in May. It all came together when Goodrich did an internship with the Flatirons Habitat for Humanity in Boulder in the fall of 2005.
While experiencing different cultures and regions was key in their decision to take the trip, they also wanted to do work for a good cause.
"I think it will be a great experience, especially being able to help build houses in underdeveloped countries," said John Bostrom, the fourth member of the group, who graduated from CU-Boulder in May, and has been looking forward to the trip for months.
For more information about the trip visit the group's Web site at behmca.com/HabitatTrip/. Further information about the Flatirons Habitat for Humanity affiliate is available at , or by calling (303) 447-3787, ext. 24.